The Five Demigods Who Saved Olympus | Book 1, 2, & 3

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Once Hermes and Helios arrived with the chariot, the group split up. Donovan and Ares would start heading to Poseidon's palace and retrieve the pearls, then head to the meadows to Aphrodite. And the others would head to Earth. All felt differently about this. Heath's mind was closed off, so the group didn't understand where his thinking was, but he was the one to suggest it. Amara thought it was smart considering it wasn't likely they'd think to look at Earth. Zander was confused and feeling anxious. Hermes liked the idea and would quite honestly listen to his friend in a heartbeat. And Helios just wanted Hermes to follow through with his promise and take the chains off of him. Once the group made it outside and rode off in the chariot, Donovan and Ares began to head down the steps of Mount Olympus.

"Okay, I know there's a bigger task at hand here, but in case you haven't realized, our family was inside of there before we entered the mind realm, and we didn't see them when we entered the real world." Ares said, making Donovan stop in his tracks.

"Why wouldn't you have said something when we were in there?! That's very important!" Donovan exclaimed.

"I thought everybody had noticed! It was kind of hard to miss!." Ares exclaimed. Donovan only sighed at him as the two headed to Atlantis. Commotion inside the palace brought them to a halt. They eyed each other before heading inside cautiously and quietly.

"What does it sound like to you?" Ares questioned.

"I'm not quite sure, but we need to be extremely quiet and find those damn pearls." Donovan said.

"Okay, but it quite literally sounds like someone is being mauled, Donovan." Ares repeated, making Donovan sigh at his husband.

"You head up to Noelle's bedroom and find the pearls while I find out what all of the noise is coming from, alright? Would that make you feel better?" Donovan asked. Ares stayed quiet for a moment.

"I'd actually like to be the one to go find out what it is." Ares responded, making Donovan groan loudly.

"Oh, come on! I have yet to get my hands on anyone! I'm the God of War and I'm restless, I just need to put my fist in someone's face!" Ares exclaimed. Donovan only pushed him in the direction of the stairs. Ares complained before complying and heading up. Donovan then followed the noise, being quiet and cautious as he went. He soon exited through the back entrance of Olympus to find Poseidon's battlegrounds. He slowly approached a ledge to find the Greek Gods down below, engaging in battle with one another. Donovan frowned as he watched, wondering what was happening. He had hardly recognized the presence of another beside them, a content sigh emitting from their throat made him turn.

"Here you see, all of the most powerful Gods and Goddesses.. completely under my control." Hypnos said as he tapped on the side of his skull. Donovan went to run off when Hypnos grabbed ahold of him, instantly entering his mind. Donovan fought his hardest. Eventually, Hypnos's control slipped enough for Donovan to use his own form of control on him. Their eyes turned a bright shade of green as they maintained eye contact.

"What will you have them do?" Donovan asked, his eyes trailing down at the battlegrounds. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades fought as the others stood idly by, watching them. They all fought mercilessly and viciously without care for one another's well-being. Donovan turned back to find Hypnos's eyes remaining where they were.

"Soon enough, they'll take this battle to Earth and will continue on for the end of time. That way, they don't get in the way of my brother and I's ruling." Hypnos confessed, making Donovan's eyes widen. He vaguely remembers when they were on their first journey to take down Cronus. Noelle explained that if they didn't take care of the job in time, Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades would take this battle to Earth, thus murdering mankind to put a stop to Cronus.

"You'll wipe out all of mankind." Donovan said as he shook his head in disbelief.

"That is the hope, yes." Hypnos said. Just then, Ares appeared on one of the many balconies.

"Donovan! I've got it!" Ares shouted, making Donovan's hold on Hypnos disappear. Once Hypnos realized this, he wrapped a hand around the throat of Donovan. Ares went to jump over the railing to help when Donovan's voice stopped him.

"Go!" Donovan grunted due to the pressure around his throat. Ares frowned.

"But, Don-" Ares said but was cut off.

"Go!" Donovan commanded that time. Ares didn't want to. He wanted to help his husband. He wanted to forget about the mission at hand but knew Donovan would never forgive him if he chose him over everyone else.

"Fuck." Ares muttered before running out of Atlantis. Once Ares made it to the surface, he ran as fast as he could to the meadows. He came up to a small, brown cottage with pink roses in the front and entered it without thinking. He began looking around but was stopped by a shovel hitting him harshly on the back of his legs, knocking him to the ground.

"Ow!" Ares exclaimed.

"You do not just enter someone else's cottage without an invitation! It works differently here than in Olympus, you imbecile!" Aphrodite exclaimed.

"Well, sorry! The meadows are home to nymphs and Demeter! I'm sure you can understand why I have never been here before!" Ares exclaimed, insulting nymphs and his mother-in-law without a care. Aphrodite sighed and shook her head.

"If you're so repulsed with being in the meadows with entities supposedly lower than you and whiny Demeter, then why are you here?" Aphrodite asked as she lowered herself onto a chair, folding her arms over her chest. Ares frowned at the word she used; supposedly. Everybody knew nymphs were lower than Gods and that they were the superior entity. He wondered what her reasoning for defending them was.

"I need your help." Ares said as he brought himself up to his feet, brushing any dust off of himself.

"Whatever for?" Aphrodite inquired.

"Noelle is in danger. Look, I know you're an evil, bitter, bitch and all, but I've been told before that you have to help anybody who receives one of these stupid pearls from you, so-" Ares said but was cut off.

"Not helping." Aphrodite answered immediately as she stood and began to head out of the cottage. Ares scoffed.

"Is it because she ruined your pathetic plan of taking over Olympus?" Ares asked, sounding irritated. Aphrodite spun around, her brown eyes darkening as she glared at him.

"I am not helping. You come into my home and insult me and my friends and expect me to want to help you because of the promise I made regarding those pearls? Do you even remember the meaning those pearls hold for me? Why I made the promise in the first place?" Aphrodite asked in disbelief. Ares stared at her dumbfoundedly, making her scoff.

"You don't care and you never have. I don't even understand why you want to help her. She means nothing to you." Aphrodite said. When Ares didn't respond and continued staring at her with a blank expression, she exited the cottage. Aphrodite only walked through the fields of flowers by herself for a moment when Ares appeared alongside her, making her stop.

"I am sorry. Not only for insulting you and acting like I didn't know the meaning behind those pearls. Especially considering, I do and I just didn't know what to say considering you've never spoken against me before. Even when we were together. I also apologize for never taking the time to understand you and how you feel. I'm sorry for failing to recognize that you are much more than the Goddess of Love." Ares said. Aphrodite was confused. She hadn't ever known Ares to apologize to anyone for anything.

"You are strong-willed and resilient. You are compassionate and captivating. And I know I've never said it before, but you are a wonderful mother to our son, Eros." Ares said. Aphrodite's eyes widened.

"You and I both know that last one is a complete lie." Aphrodite said, making Ares chuckle.

"You were wrong about one thing though. I do care about Noelle. Not only because she is a deaf friend to my loving husband, but also because she has done nothing to deserve what is happening to her right now. And with your help, we may have a chance of getting her out of this." Ares explained. Aphrodite sighed after a moment before inquiring,

"How can I help?"